Post navigation

Construction and Tools – Storybox

My library system has one central location and 9 branches. To make storytime programming easier for all involved, we use storyboxes. These are “storytimes in a box”. They contain everything a storyteller would need for a successful storytime including books, videos, fingerplays and crafts. Ideally, there should be enough variety that the box can be used for infants/toddlers, preschoolers, and lower elementary ages. I’m trying to catch up on a few of these that I’ve been meaning to post for a while. This one I created for our Summer 2014 Rotation.

Additional Books that I didn’t get in time, but would be great for this theme:Monster Trucks by Mark ToddA Truck Goes Rattley-Bumpa by Jonathan London, illustrated by Denis RocheMachines at Work by Byron Barton

Old MacDonald had some tools, E-I-E-I-O.And with those tools he had a hammer, E-I-E-I-O.With a bang, bang, here and a bang, bang, there.Here a bang, there a bang, everywhere a bang, bang,Old MacDonald had some tools, E-I-E-I-O.

Other verses:
A saw that went see-saw
A wrench that turn-turned
A screwdriver that would twist-twist
Pliers that pinch-pinch
And a drill that went ZZZZ-ZZZZ

Johnny Works with One Hammer
Johnny works with one hammer, (move one hand up and down like using hammer)
one hammer, one hammer.
Johnny works with one hammer,
Then he works with two. (move two hands up and down like using hammer.)

Johnny works with two hammers… Then he works with three.(hammer with both hands and stamp one foot on floor.)
Johnny works with three hammers… Then he works with four.(hammer with both hands and stamp both feet on floor.)
Johnny works with four hammers… Then he works with five. (hammer with both hands, stamp both feet on floor, and nod head up and down.)
Johnny works with five hammers… Then he goes to sleep.(hammer with both hands, stamp feet on floor, nod head, then rest head on joined palms & pretend to go to sleep.)

(from: Roginski, Dawn R. A Year in the Story Room: Ready-to-Use Programs for Children. Chicago: ALA Editions. 2014. Pg110.)

Building a House
Building a house is lots of work,(wipe brow.)
First, you dig up lots of dirt.(Pretend to dig.)
Then you pour a concrete floor,(Touch floor.)
And pound boards with nails galore.(Pretend to hammer.)
Doors and windows go in fast,(Draw squares in air with finger.)
Now your house is done at last.(Clasp hands together above head.)

My Little House
I’m going to build a little house
With windows wide and bright.(stretch arms out to sides.)
With chimney tall and curling smoke
Rising out of sight.(stand tall, spiral hand upward.)
In winter when the snowflakes fall,(twinkle fingers down like falling snow.)
Or when I hear a storm,(cup hand behind ear.)
I’ll go and sit inside my house
Where I’ll be snug and warm.(hug self.)

She’ll Be Driving a Bulldozer(Tune: “She’ll be Coming ‘Round the Mountain”)

She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be driving a bulldozer
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
She’ll be driving a bulldozer,
When she comes.
Push it back! (Hold hands palm out and move them away from body.)

She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)

She’ll be running a big digger when she comes.
Scoop it up! (Make a scooping motion with hands.)

She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
She’ll be running a big digger,
When she comes.

Scoop it up! Push it back! (Perform both motions.)

Other verses:
She’ll be working a dirt-dumper… Look out below! (Cup hands around mouth.)
She’ll be on a cement mixer… Shake it up! (Shake your body.)
She’ll be steering a steamroller… Roll it flat! (Twirl arms around each other.)
She’ll be driving a street-sweeper… Clean it up! (Make sweeping motions with hands).

The CarpenterThe carpenter’s hammer goes rap, rap, rap. (prentend to hammer.)And his saw goes see-saw-see.
(Pretend to saw.)
He hammers and hammers, and saws and saws,(Pretend to hammer, then saw.)
To build a house for me. (Form roof shape with fingers.)

VIDEOS:“Changes, Changes” from There was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly … and More Sing-Along Favorites. Based on the book by Pat Hutchins“I’m Dirty” from I’m Dirty … and More Stories of Adventure and Science. Based on the Book by Kate & Jim McMullan“Henry Builds a Cabin” from The True Story of the Three Little Pigs… and More Animal Adventures. Based on the book by D.B. Johnson

CRAFTS:

Moveable Dump Truck Craft Materials needed:

Construction paper

Dump truck coloring page

Brads

Scissors

Glue

Crayons / Colored Pencils / Markers

Have children color in the dump truck however they wish. Cut out the dump truck, and then cut the “dump container” away from the base of the truck. Glue the base of the truck to the construction paper, if you wish. Then, insert a brad to hold the dump container to the base of the dump truck on the construction paper. Now you have a dump container that moves up and down!

Have children color the tools, and then cut them out. Give them one strip of the construction paper and have them glue the tools so that they are halfway hanging off the paper. When the child has completed this, have them come to an adult helper to have them staple additional strips together to make a “toolbelt” that fits loosely around the hips. If you prefer, you can punch holes in the ends of the construction paper and tie the belt around the child’s hips that way.